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How-To Geek

What’s a geek to do with VMware, extra hard disk space, and RAM to spare? Why fill it with all the operating systems he can! For the fun of it, we take a look at virtualizing a classic version of Windows.

We start with one of the first popular version of Windows – Windows 3.11. Many of us can remember using Windows 3.11, but may be surprised to go back and see how many things still function similar in today’s versions. Here’s some screenshots of Windows 3.11 running in VMware Player on Windows 7 x64. Yes, that’s a 16 bit OS running on top of a 64 bit OS.

Windows 3.1

The installer looks surprisingly familiar … hey, it looks just like the initial stage of XP’s installer.

Yes, we still have to start Windows by entering “win” at the command prompt…

The famous 3.1 boot screen … looks a little different than the Vista or 7 startup animation.

Do you need to learn how to use the mouse? I was actually using a Microsoft Wireless mouse in Windows 3.11, since it just looks like a standard PS/2 mouse through VMware.

Welcome to Windows 3.11. No exit buttons; just double-click on the left-hand side of the Window. Amazingly, you can still exit programs this way in all other versions of Windows, including Windows 7.

The great-granddaddy of Windows 7 Libraries…

The infamous Paint…formerly called Paintbrush.

We’ve all wasted countless hours on Minesweeper…

There wasn’t the ability to save documents to a whole lot of different formats back then.

Oh, and don’t forget to exit Windows when you’re done for the day … it was basically just a program that is running on DOS. Clicking Exit doesn’t shut down your computer, it only exits to DOS.

We hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane…those of you who are old enough to remember that is. Leave a comment below and share your Windows 3.1 stories. We remember this was quite a defining moment in computer geek history when it was launched.

Win 3.11 was for me just another app on Dos that I used every now and then as a sort of try out. Soon enough though I switched over to the linux camp. It was after 10 years or so that I tried to install a copy of the then popular Windows 98 which didn’t work at first.
Nowadays I am using a Mac…

What a flashback, I thought of the 30 (I think ) or so 3.5″ floppies it took to install it. And if any screwed up you had to start over. even on number 29. Also you could just make copies of the floppies and you had another copy of Windows 3.1

I have been running WWG 31.. for over 5 years on the VPC from MS. I even ran it on a MACintosh under the VPC for mac.

I have screen shots of web pages that I accessed with windows 3.11 if your interested.

The first time you create the hard disk for the vpc and windows to install dos 6.22, it can get
a bit intimidating using fdisk and format c:/s I had to keep looking at my real c drive to make
sure that I was not going to explode. but it is fun.
I have installed almost all versions of windows and linux on the windows 7 vpc which works
fine. There are a few gotcha’s that you have to watch out for. Like the cursor being captured
by the dos/windows session. but ctrl+alt+del allows you to go back properly. I have even
used the printers from dos and windows.

As a kid, I remember getting annoyed when they changed the name from Paintbrush to Paint. We were stuck with Windows 3.1 for a remarkably long time due to OS upgrades being difficult to find in the DRC (formerly Zaire). Computer viruses were not exactly a pressing security issue, however. That any computer lasted as long as that laptop did in the African rain forest (100% humidity, bugs, dirt, water) still amazes me. Two laptops in 8 years, with a motherboard replacement in each and I think one got buried in a crate under a house during a civil war for a couple years. We still have the second one, running Windows 95. A few weeks ago, I found out that an old favourite game was available for Linux. Best nostalgia day ever.

Ahhhh. MEMORABILIA……. Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, which all were Program Manager, then after it seemed like forever the Granddaddy of the Start Bar was, I remember it well ” Windows 95″ a very big milestone, that ridded itself of Program Manager and along came Explorer! Well all you (me included) old gramps remember everything that came after. Its been a very long journey to Windows 7. Its funny though, you would think by now all computers would be like the ones on Star Trek with the beautiful intelligent voice. I guess sometimes progress is just slow. But all in all I do give Microsoft some credit where it is due.

You know, those pictures remind me of all the “wasted” years spent with Windows. I’m glad to have left it behind for much more interesting stuff (like gnu/linux, freebsd). Windows is so limiting and uninteresting. DOS was kinda cool and geeky still. Nowadays I don’t even want Windows for free. If I get a computer with Windows I usually wipe it away and install something decent.

Win 3.11 runs great in Dosbox as well, and that’s probably an easier way to get up and running than a full fledged VM host. To answer James’ question above, that’s exactly what I did to play my ancient Windows CDROM games.

Win 3.1 was my first OS, thinking about it now i think i would find it rather difficult and even unmanageable to work with the same ebb and flow as i find with my com today….but great
rememberings cant wait for Win 3.19598XproVista10 !!!

DID YOU KNOW?

Adam Rainer is the only person in recorded history to be both a dwarf and a giant: an unspecified medical problem in his youth stunted his growth and a suspected pituitary tumor in adulthood sent him soaring to a final height of 7 feet 8 inches.